Alexandria, Va.—We are navigating the narrow streets of colonial-era Old Town Alexandria to test the mettle of the Ford Transit Connect in the cramped urban environment where Ford says its microvan will deliver commercial customers from high fuel costs and parking headaches. But the slab-sided box on wheels catches the eye of more than one urban hipster at the headquarters of the Art League, which serves as our briefing location. And it may be young drivers looking for something fresher than a Scion who will power Transit Connect sales in the U.S.—especially when the battery electric version arrives in 2010. —Dan Carney

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The Specs

The Transit Connect is exactly the kind of vehicle Americans would have bought by the, um, dozens during the SUV boom of the last couple decades. If its goofy high roof and billboard-like slab sides didn't repel shoppers, its minivan kiss-of-death sliding side doors would have.

But that was then.

American sensibilities have evolved and our reward is Ford's decision to import a seven-year-old commercial delivery truck whisked out of the waiting hands of a Prague scooter shop. Well, not directly, because the Czechs, like the rest of Europe, get Transits with diesel power and manual transmissions, while we in the U.S. get the familiar 136-hp 2.0-liter gasoline Duratec four-cylinder engine matched to a, ahem, well-proven four-speed automatic transmission.

The Transit Connect's high roof not only provides enough headroom for LeBron James wearing Abe Lincoln's stovepipe hat, but it also contributes to the size of the 135-cubic-foot payload bay, which, if it were any more cavernous, would be inhabited by bats. The bats might prefer the windowless panel version, but the Transit is also available with windows in its rear cargo doors and with windows all around for drivers who want to see out.

Ford wrapped the test vehicles in sample graphics to give an idea how commercial customers might dress the Transit for work, but the display advertising also emphasized the van's potential for consumers who want to personalize their ride in a bigger, bolder way than is possible even with popular boxes like the Scion xB and the Kia Soul. In addition to splashy graphics, look for some drivers to wrap their Transits in faux work garb, like an automotive analog to the mercifully short-lived fashion of wearing vintage-style gas-station-attendant uniforms.

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The brief, commercial-customer-oriented option list also demands customization for personal-use buyers, because there is no available sunroof, killer audio or rear-seat video system available. All the better for customizers, though, who will find ample space to work their magic on the Transit Connect and its owners' wallets.

What is available is a suite of computerized work gadgets, like a built-in computer with a 3G wireless internet connection that uses the in-dash nav screen as its display. Input is through the touchscreen display or Bluetooth wireless keyboard, and the computer runs the usual Microsoft Office applications and has the ability to remotely control a desktop computer back at the office. There is even a wireless printer to let a driver print invoices, estimates or other documents for customers.

A device called Tool Link builds RFID sensors into the van so at the press of a button the driver can see an inventory of all the tagged tools aboard the van. The computer can automatically compare this inventory against prepared lists needed for various jobs, telling the driver whether additional tools are needed before leaving the headquarters in the morning. The system is also helpful for ensuring that no tools are forgotten at the job site at the end of the day.

Crew Chief is a boss-is-watching GPS device which lets a supervisor know where all his vehicles are and what they are doing. It will also rat out miscreants who violate preset limits on speed or geographic boundaries. That means no more weekend runs to Tijuana in the company van.

The Drive

With rack-and-pinion steering and MacPherson strut front suspension derived from the Focus (but ruggedized for commercial service), the Transit Connect provides steering feel and response that is exceptional for a commercial vehicle and just plain good for any kind of car. Ford has thankfully resisted the temptation to rig the throttle to snap wide open at the driver's first thought of touching the gas pedal, a scam often deployed to create the false impression of sprightly acceleration in sluggish vehicles. And the 3470-pound Transit Connect is a sluggish vehicle, but in its around-town natural environment, drivers won't notice. They will, however, appreciate the linear throttle response, smooth brakes and precise steering that make it easy to navigate crowded alleys and stop-and-go traffic with minimal commotion.

The high driving position and tall windows make forward visibility superb, but the various blocked-off rear panels in the cargo versions make the rear view challenging. Optional rear backup sensors help with parallel parking.

The driver's seat is unexpectedly comfortable in the Transit, a nod to the expectation that someone is going to spend a lot of hours in it every day. In addition to adjustable height and recline, the driver's seat includes adjustable lumbar support and an armrest on the right side. The steering column tilts and telescopes to further help fit the van to its driver.

Driving the van both empty and with a 1600-pound payload aboard, acceleration at urban speeds is adequate, though with the aero drag of the tall roof, the hefty curb weight, and only four gears in the slushbox, the Transit doesn't look like an ideal candidate for high-speed, cross-country touring, though Ford did mention it is in discussions with RV makers about possible camper versions.

Or maybe Ford will develop its own custom-look option packages, such a '70s "sin bin" panel version like the rear-windowless Pinto wagon festooned with yellow, orange and red side stripes and a porthole window in the rear panel. Ford really did sell such a car at one time.

The Bottom Line

The Transit Connect starts at $21,475, which includes air conditioning and a rudimentary radio. The XLT starts at $22,300 and adds amenities like power windows and door locks. The complete Ford Work Solutions suite adds another $2800, if the buyer opts for all the tool- and driver-tracking gizmos. Small-business owners Ford lined up to give testimonials said the Transit is less expensive than the vehicles they use today for the jobs it would do, and it gets better fuel economy, at 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, so the laid-off Wall Street accountants who crunch the numbers will give a thumbs up.

For businesses looking to field a fleet of the little vans, the Transit Connect looks like a great value. For personal-use buyers like the members of the Art League, the Transit Connect's personalization potential as a blank canvas makes it priceless.